A repeatable session record
Copy these prompts into a notebook, or print this page. Keep the first description brief and literal. The purpose is to make your thinking visible, including uncertainty and sessions that produce no striking impression.
Date, time, and session length: __________________________
Method and lighting: __________________________________
Question written before the session: _____________________
What I hoped or worried I would see: _____________________
What I actually noticed: _______________________________
First personal association: ______________________________
Another possible interpretation: _________________________
An ordinary explanation: ______________________________
What I still do not know: ______________________________
One grounded next action: _____________________________
How I felt after closing: _______________________________
Worked example
Question: “How can I approach my unfinished creative project?” Observation: “Three pale lines crossed the water.” Association: “I thought about three separate tasks.” Alternative: “The lines were reflections of the window frame.” Action: “Break the project into research, a rough draft, and revision.” No prediction is needed for the exercise to be useful.
Review after several sessions
Read a group of entries instead of judging only the most dramatic one. Did similar concerns recur? Did the practice help you formulate a question? Did your proposed actions help? Count misses, ambiguous impressions, and uneventful sessions alongside apparent matches.
Write later reflections in a separate dated note. Do not edit an earlier vague entry until it appears to have predicted a later event. Keeping the original wording preserves the difference between an impression and hindsight.
Keep personal notes personal
Record your own reactions rather than private accusations about other people. If you share a session with a group, agree in advance what may be discussed or quoted. You can keep your journal offline; this page does not collect your entries.
Updated September 16, 2026 · Original practice suggestions by Flint & Flicker. Traditions differ; adapt to your circumstances.
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